(Newser)
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It may be terrifying to hear a rattlesnake's signature sound—but, hey, at least it's giving you a heads-up. Now, hikers in South Dakota's Black Hills have to keep their eyes peeled for rattlesnakes that can't rattle, NPR reports. These snakes have curled tails like pigs thanks to what seem to be atrophied muscles, says an expert. It may be a genetic defect.

"Defect" or not, it's probably helping the snakes: Those that do rattle are likely to get spotted and killed, so the non-rattlers have built-in protection that they may be passing on to their descendants. On the other hand, it could just be that certain snakes have had their tails broken "during failed predation attempts," says a researcher. Either way, it seems hikers may need more than just their ears to avoid them.

One idea is that feral hogs, are able to pretty much ignore the bite, and have learned that the rattle is like ringing a dinner bell. Selecting by nature the predisposition to not rattle.

Mia

Aug 30, 2013 6:06 PM CDT

Stumbled upon a 5ft timber rattler a few weeks ago. He had a rattle but didn't use it at all. In fact, he didn't move. He sat there a still as a rock. Scariest shit ever.

No-Left-Turn

Aug 30, 2013 5:22 PM CDT

While there is still risk, biking is safer than hiking in snakeland. Within the last two years, I killed (not deliberately) a small rattlesnake and missed two cottonmouths by inches. My legs get up to handlebar height pretty quickly. Once, I did get nailed by a nonpoisonous snake just above my ankle.